Kevin Chaffee Breaks Through the Bridesmaid Barrier,
Takes First USAC DMA Win at Bear Ridge Speedway
BY MARK McKEON
BRADFORD, VT – After finishing second in all three of his previous USAC Dirt Midget Association starts, ‘The Fairlee Flier,” Kevin Chaffee of Fairlee, VT finally grabbed the brass ring with a win at Bear Ridge Speedway Saturday. The former Sportsman Coupe track champion started ninth and played the role of the crayfish, scuttling his way around the bottom of the race track enroute to victory lane in the 20 lap event.
“My teammate Joe Krawiec and I were going to run the top because the track was good and tacky up there, so that’s how we set up the cars. We added some weight to the right rear and we were going to roll around the top and pass everybody and I don’t remember being on the top because the car was so good on the bottom,” Chafee said, laughing. “I picked off cars really quick and right after I got the lead they told us we were on lap six. After that I just started listening for another car, but I would only hear one for a lap or two after a restart, so I just kept it on the bottom and waited for someone to try to pass me but no one ever did.
Second place finisher Scott Holcomb of Granby, CT started tenth and was happy just to have survived a wild night which saw rookie Tyler Rivard flip and points leader Krawiec sidelined on lap 15 when his engine Chernobyled in a ball of flames.
“I tightened up to run the outside, but I think the Mini Sprints that ran before us might have kicked some marbles up there but didn’t dust it off,” explained Holcomb. “I tried a couple of laps up there, but then went to the bottom. There were so many cars going every which way that I spent a lot of time looking at body side panels. Once things settled down I started getting some speed up, but Kevin was just running too fast to catch.”
Jeff Horn of Hudson, NH finished third, coming from the tail end after being caught up in a mid-race incident.
“The track was just great tonight, there was grip everywhere. I really appreciate Bear Ridge having us here,” Horn said.
Ray Miller and Tim Gallant completed the top five.
The USAC DMA Midgets return to Bear Ridge Speedway on Saturday August 20.
FEATURE: (20 laps) 1. Kevin Chaffee, 2. Scott Holcomb, 3. Jeff Horn, 4. Ray Miller, 5. Tim Gallant, 6. Scott Viets, 7. Adam Whitney, 8. Joe Krawiec, 9. Tony Montessi, 10. Dean Christenson, 11. Tyler Rivard, 12. Jamie Spalding. Laps 1-4 Viets, Laps 5-20 Chaffee. Heat winners: Viets and Holcomb.
North East Racing Forum – http://www.neracingforum.com/forum